Propaganda Exposed: X Feature Unmasks Foreign Accounts Meddling in Indian Politics

This special report details how a new transparency feature on X is unmasking foreign accounts influencing India's domestic conversations. India Today's OSINT team uncovered thousands of accounts based in Pakistan and West Asia posing as Indian citizens to post on sensitive issues like the Bihar elections and the NRC-CAA protests. The programme examines the geopolitical, domestic, and security dimensions of this digital information warfare, with experts discussing the significant legal gaps in Indian law to combat such coordinated campaigns. Advocate of the Supreme Court, Dr. Pawan Duggal, states, 'Currently, we do not have adequate protections under applicable Indian law. The Information Technology Act 2000 is completely silent on fake news.' The discussion also explores the limitations of technology in detecting VPN users and the need for social media platforms to be held more accountable.